Israel accepts principles of Franco-Egyptian peace plan

ISRAEL SAID yesterday it accepted the principles of a Franco-Egyptian ceasefire proposal to end the violence in Gaza but its …

ISRAEL SAID yesterday it accepted the principles of a Franco-Egyptian ceasefire proposal to end the violence in Gaza but its officials insisted further discussions on the details of a deal were required.

The first of a regular three-hour "humanitarian pause", instigated by Israel in response to mounting international criticism, provided a welcome respite for Gaza's beleaguered residents, but the clashes resumed immediately afterwards.

Returning from a diplomatic mission in the region, French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority had accepted the truce proposals. Two senior Israeli officials are travelling to Cairo for talks.

There was no indication from any Hamas leader that the organisation was willing to accept the proposals in their current form. Exiled Hamas leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said there will be no talks about a permanent ceasefire and, as long as there is an Israeli occupation, resistance will continue.

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He said Hamas stands by its demands for an immediate end to Israel's offensive, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and opening of the border crossings.

Details of the peace plan drawn up by Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his French counterpart were not clear, but the key points were believed to include an immediate cessation of hostilities, opening of the border crossings and the setting up of an international force to ensure an end to the smuggling of weapons into Gaza across the border with Egypt.

Both Turkey and France have offered to contribute soldiers to such a force.

Mr Marzouk, in an interview with the al-Arabiya satellite news channel, warned that no force in the world will be able to stop the smuggling through tunnels, which occurred even when Israeli forces occupied Gaza.

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice extended a visit to New York to participate in talks at the United Nations over the Egyptian-French proposal, which circulated among diplomats. Ms Rice urged Israel to seriously consider the ceasefire proposal and spoke by phone to Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, and met Arab ministers as well as her French and British counterparts at the UN.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said: "We need urgently to conclude some sort of a ceasefire agreement that would be lasting, that would endure."

Despite the diplomatic push, Israel pounded Gaza yesterday on the 12th day of its military campaign. Troops continued to engage Palestinian militants in built-up areas, proceeding cautiously in an effort to prevent additional military casualties.

The Israeli security cabinet gave the army the green light to proceed with the military campaign, but there was no indication that an order was given for a further escalation.